Arne Green
Topeka Capital-Journal
There will no NCAA Tournament super regional this year for Kansas State's baseball team.
Top seed Texas put on an early power display and the Wildcats never recovered, dropping a 15-8 decision to the Longhorns in an Austin Regional elimination game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Texas.
K-State finished the season with a 32-26 record, including a 1-2 mark in the regional. It was the second straight postseason appearance for the Wildcats, who last year won the Fayetteville regional before bowing out.
Texas (44-13) advanced to face Texas-San Antonio in Sunday's late game. The Longhorns will need a victory to force a second championship game Monday.
Texas set the tone early with six runs in the top of the first inning, including a two-run homer by Max Belyeu and a grand slam from Casey Borba. Borba had two home runs and eight RBIs in the game.
K-State got a three-run homer from Seth Dardar in the bottom of the first, but Texas starter Ruger Riojas retired 18 of the next 19 batters before the Wildcats' AJ Evasco ended the drought with a solo homer in the seventh. Evasco hit a second home run in the eight, but it was too little, too late.
Riojas gave up seven runs in 7⅓ innings for the victory, while K-State starter Tanner Duke lasted just a third of an inning and took the loss.